Table with swingable bow foot

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a table comprising a table top and at least one bow foot which is swingable between a transportation position in which it is swung in so as to rest against a surface of the table top, and a swung out utilization position, said bow foot having a base limb and at least one table leg, the bow foot experiencing an offset between its transportation position and its utilization position axially to its base limb, which offset is controlled by a control tenon guided in a control track, wherein the control track is formed on the circumference of the base limb and the control tenon is firmly attached to the table top.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a table comprising a table top and at least one bow foot which is swingable between a transportation position in which it is swung in so as to rest against a surface of the table top, and a swung out utilization position, said bow foot having a base limb and at least one table leg, the bow foot experiencing an offset between its transportation position and its utilization position axially to its base limb, which offset is controlled by a control tenon guided in a control track.

2. Background Art

A table of this kind is e.g. known from WO 03/068020 A 1 and comprises a rectangular table top, which is fitted on its underside with two swingable U-shaped bow feet, each comprising a base limb for resting on the table top and two table legs. The bow feet are each swingable from a transportation position abutting against the underside of the table top into an utilization position in which the table legs have an essentially right-angle orientation relative to the table top. When they are swung between their utilization position and their transportation position, the bow feet each experience an offset in an axial direction relative to their base limbs. The offset is controlled by a control track, which is part of a housing mounted on the underside of the table top and in which there is guided a tenon, which is firmly attached to the bow foot. The control track comprises a tenon receptacle into which the tenon, which is firmly attached to the bow foot, snaps self-actingly when the relevant bow foot is in the swung-out condition owing to the effect of a spring device. To swing the bow feet into the transportation position they have to be pushed against the spring force of the spring device in the axial direction of the relevant base limb. This may involve a high expenditure of force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to create a table of the aforementioned kind having at least one swingable bow foot which may be offset in the lateral direction of the table and which is movable with little expenditure of force between a swung-in transportation position and swung-out utilization position and vice versa.

According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the table comprising a table top and at least one bow foot which is swingable between a transportation position in which it is swung in so as to rest against a surface of the table top, and a swung out utilization position, said bow foot having a base limb and at least one table leg, the bow foot experiencing an offset between its transportation position and its utilization position axially to its base limb, which offset is controlled by a control tenon guided in a control track, wherein the control track is formed on the circumference of the base limb and the control tenon is firmly attached to the table top.

According to the invention it is therefore proposed that the control track be formed on the circumference of the base limb and the control tenon be firmly attached to the table top. Through this arrangement of the control track and the control tenon, the bow foot may be swung with little expenditure of force and at the same time experience an offset in the axial direction of the base limb such that opposing table legs, which are aligned with each other in the utilization position, can be laid down on the underside of the table top without colliding with each other. The design of the control track preferably defines the end positions of the relevant bow foot by having the control tenon, which is firmly attached to the table top, moving against a stop formed by the end-side edge of the control track.

In a preferred embodiment of the table according to the invention, the control track is formed in a control shell fixedly attached to the base limb. The control shell can especially be designed as a diecast part made of zinc or aluminium and in this way withstand high stresses which may act as a result of the acting leverage forces of the relevant bow foot.

To make a rotationally fixed connection with the base limb of the bow foot, the control shell may comprise a fastening tenon that reaches through the base limb. The base limb is then equipped with corresponding openings.

To secure the transportation position and the utilization position of the bow foot, the control shell may comprise at least two bar elements, which are aligned radially relative to the axis of the base limb, which cooperate with a locking device, and of which one defines the transportation position and the other the utilization position of the bow foot. In a simplified embodiment the control shell may also comprise only one such bar element which secures the bow foot in its utilization position. In the transportation position the bow foot is then unsecured and thus swingable or secured by alternative measures.

In a special embodiment of the table according to the invention, the fastening tenon forms, on its free front face end, one of the bar elements. The fastening tenon thus has the dual function of preventing the control shell from rotating relative to the base limb and securing one of the bow foot positions.

The locking device is, for example, formed by a swingable bar arm, preferably of a plate-like design, which comprises in its end section facing away from its swing axis a recess or pocket for one of the bar elements to engage with. Depending on the swing position of the bar foot, either the one or the other of the two bar elements formed on the control shell then engages with said recess.

In a preferred embodiment the bar arm is pre-tensioned by means of a spring device in the blocking direction. When the bar arm is released, the relevant bar element thus self-actingly engages with the corresponding recess of the bar arm.

In an embodiment realized with little construction space, the spring device is formed by an elastomer body, which acts on a tongue or the like of the deployment arm.

The pre-tension of the spring device is preferably adjustable.

To be able to swing the locking device in a simple manner manually into the release position or the blocking position, there is preferably envisaged an actuation element for the locking device.

The actuation element can in particular be an actuation lever with a handle that is aligned parallel to the swing axis of the actuation lever.

To be able to swing the bar arm in an easy manner into the release position, the actuation lever preferably comprises in the area of its swing axis a cam element, by means of which the locking device is swingable between a release position and a blocking position. Here, the cam element can actively guide the movement of the locking device or of the bar arm or only release the swinging of the locking device, which is performed by the spring element.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the subject matter of the invention are disclosed in the description, the drawings and the claims.

Two embodiments of a table according to the invention are schematically shown in the drawings and are explained below in more detail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a table according to the invention with folded out table legs;

FIG. 2 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, but with the table legs folded in;

FIG. 3 is a section through the table according to FIG. 1 in the area of an actuation mechanism along the line in FIG. 1, which actuation mechanism is in the blocking position;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, but in the release position of the actuation mechanism with folded out table legs;

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, but with the table legs folded in;

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 in the blocking position of the actuation mechanism;

FIG. 7 is an explosion view of a bow foot and of the actuation mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a first perspective view of the bow foot with the control shell;

FIG. 9 is a second view of the bow foot with the control shell;

FIG. 10 is a first view of the control shell on its own;

FIG. 11 is a second view of the control shell;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a bar plate of the actuation mechanism;

FIG. 13 a top view of the inner side of the bar plate;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an actuation lever of the actuation mechanism;

FIG. 15 is a perspective sectional view of a second embodiment of an actuation mechanism for a bow foot in a blocking position; and

FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to FIG. 15, but in the release position of the actuation mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 there is shown a table 10, which comprises a rectangular table top 12, on the underside of which there is arranged alongside the short edges in each case an essentially U-shaped bow foot 14A or 14B.

The bow feet 14A and 14B are each swingable between the utilization position shown in FIG. 1 and the transportation position shown in FIG. 2 and each comprise two table legs 141A and 142A or 141B and 142B, which are connected with each other via a base limb or 143B, respectively. The base limbs 143A and 143B are aligned parallel to the plane of the table top 12, regardless of the swing position of the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B. In the transportation position shown in FIG. 2 the table legs 141A, 142A, 141B, 142B essentially abut on the underside of the table top 12. In the utilization position of the bow feet 14A and 14B they are aligned essentially perpendicular to the plane of the table top 12.

As can be seen from the comparison between FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the bow feet 14A and 14B experience an offset in opposite directions laterally from the direction of the table, i.e. parallel to the axis of the base limbs 143A and 143B as they are swung between the utilization position and the transportation position. Because of the offset, table legs 142A and 141B on the one hand and 141A and 142B on the other hand come to lie next to each other, so that a favourable stackability of the table 10 is ensured. The offset of the bow feet 14A and 14B in the lateral direction of the table while being swung is in each case controlled by an actuation device 16A or 16B, which is described below in more detail on the basis of FIG. 3 to FIG. 14.

The actuation devices 16A and 16B each comprise a housing 18, which is formed by a lower shell 20 and an upper shell 24 screwed thereto via screws 22. The lower shell 20 has a plate-like form and abuts with its outer side against the underside of the table top 12, being fixed to the table top 12 via fixing screws 26. The dimensions of the lower shell 20 in the lateral direction of the table are a little larger than those of the upper shell so that the relevant actuation device 16A or 16B can be screwed to the table top 12 with the housing 18 assembled.

In the lateral direction of the table the housing 18 is pierced by the relevant base limb 143A or 143B of the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B, there being provided two bearing bushes 27, which are each made of two half-shells and which are arranged on bearing saddles 28 formed by the lower shell 20, for bearing the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B.

On the base element 143A or 143B of the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B there is formed a control shell 30, which is screwed to the relevant base limb 143A or 143B via screw holes 32 and which is concentrically arranged relative to the axis of the relevant base limb 143A or 143B.

The control shell 30 comprises a control or sliding track 34, which has a spiral-shaped course relative to the axis of the relevant base limb 143A or 143B and cooperates with a control tenon 36 formed on the inside of the lower shell 20 of the housing 18 so as to be fixedly attached to the table top. Through the cooperation of the control track 34 and the control tenon 36 there is caused during the swinging of the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B an offset of the same in the lateral direction of the table.

The control shell 30 also comprises a fastening tenon 38, which reaches through the relevant base limb 143A or 143B, so that the relevant control shell 30 is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the table foot 14A or 14B. To this end the base limbs 143A and 143B are provided with essentially rectangular openings 40, the dimensions of which correspond to those of the fastening tenon 38.

The control shell 30 comprises two bar elements 42A and 42B, one of which protrudes in a radial direction on the circumference of section 44, which abuts with its surface against the relevant base element 143A or 143B, and the other of which is formed by a front end section of the fastening tenon 38 and also protrudes in a radial direction relative to the relevant base limb 143A or 143B. The bar elements 42A and 42B each have an essentially rectangular cross-section, which is tapered in the direction of the respective free front end so that a taper is formed in each case.

The control shell 30 cooperates with a bar plate 46, which in the area of a swing axis 48 is swingably mounted in the housing 18 on bearing half-shells 50 of the lower shell 20 and bearing half-shells, not shown in greater detail, of the upper shell 24. In the end section facing away from the swing axis 48 the bar plate comprises on its inner side facing the table top 12 a pocket-like recess 52, the dimensions of which correspond with those of the bar elements 42A and 42B so that when the relevant bar element 42A or 42B is engaged, the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B is locked and cannot be swung.

The bar plate 46 has on its inside an essentially L-shaped tongue 54, the base limb of which abuts against a active surface of a spring element 56 made of an elastomer, by means of which spring element the bar plate 46 is pre-tensioned in the blocking position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. The spring element 56 rests on a bearing 58, which is adjustably supported at a right angle to the plane of the table top 12 on the lower shell 20 of the housing 18 and into which engages an adjustment screw 60 that reaches through the spring element 56, and through the actuation of which the pretension of the spring element 56 is adjustable.

The actuation devices 16A and 16B also each comprise an actuation lever 62, which is provided with a handle 64 extending in the lateral direction of the table and which is swingably supported on bearing half-shells 66 of the lower shell 20 of the housing 18 and bearing half-shells 68 of the upper shell 24 if the housing 18.

In the area of its swing axis the actuation lever 62 is provided with a cam 70 which cooperates with a shoulder 72 and the position of which determines the blocking position and the release position of the bearing plate 46. In the blocking position shown in FIG. 3 the bearing plate 46 is pulled into the blocking position by the effect of the spring element 56 so that the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B cannot be swung. In the release position shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 the actuation lever 62 is swung such that the cam 70, which has rotated around the swing axis of the actuation lever has swung the bar plate 46 against the pre-tension of the spring element 56 and the relevant bar element 42A or 42B is released for swinging the relevant bow foot 14A or 14B.

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show a second embodiment of an actuation device 16′ for a bow foot 14′ of a table of the kind shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The actuation device 16′ essentially corresponds to that according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 14, but is different therefrom in that the swing movement of the bar plate 46 from the release position shown in FIG. 16 into the blocking position shown in FIG. 15 is not performed by a spring element but by swinging the actuation lever 62 or the cam element 70′ mounted in the area of its swing axis, through the rotation of which the bar plate 46 is swung. The cam element 70′ is arranged between a bracket 80, which is spring-mounted via plate springs 82 on the inside of the bar plate 46, and a base 72. The plate springs 82 serve to accommodate tolerances, the pre-tension of the plate springs 82 being changeable though an adjustment screw 84.

In all other respects the actuation device 16′ corresponds to the actuation device described on the basis of FIG. 1 to FIG. 14. 

1. A table comprising a table top (12) and at least one bow foot (14A, 14B) which is swingable between a transportation position in which it is swung in so as to rest against a surface of the table top (12), and a swung out utilization position, said bow foot having a base limb (143A, 143B) and at least one table leg (141A, 141B, 142A, 142B), the bow foot (14A, 14B) experiencing an offset between its transportation position and its utilization position axially to its base limb (143A, 143B), which offset is controlled by a control tenon (36) guided in a control track (34), wherein the control track (34) is formed on the circumference of the base limb (143A, 143B) and the control tenon (36) is firmly attached to the table top.
 2. A table according to claim 1, wherein the control track (34) is formed in a control shell (30), which is fixed to the base limb (143A, 143B).
 3. A table according to claim 2, wherein the control track (34) abuts concentrically on the base limb (143A, 143B).
 4. A table according to claim 3, wherein the control shell (30) comprises a fastening tenon (38), which reaches through the base limb (143A, 143B).
 5. A table according to claim 3, wherein the control shell (30) comprises at least two bar elements (42A, 42B), which are aligned radially relative to the axis of the base limb (143A, 143B), which cooperate with a locking device (46), and of which one defines the transportation position and the other the utilization position of the bow foot (14A, 14B).
 6. A table according to claim 4, wherein the fastening tenon (38) forms one of the bar elements (42B) at its free end side.
 7. A table according to claim 5, wherein the locking device (46) is formed by a swingable bar arm which comprises in the end section facing away from the swing axis a recess (52) for one of the bar elements (42A, 42B) to engage with.
 8. A table according to claim 7, wherein the swingable bar arm is of a plate-like design.
 9. A table according to claim 7, wherein the bar arm (46) is pre-tensioned by means of a spring device in the blocking direction.
 10. A table according to claim 9, wherein the spring device (56) is formed by an elastomer body, which acts on a tongue (54) of the bar arm (46).
 11. A table according to claim 9, wherein the pre-tension of the spring device (56) is adjustable.
 12. A table according to claim 7, comprising an actuation element (62) for the locking device (46).
 13. A table according to claim 12, wherein the actuation element (62) is an actuation lever with a handle (64).
 14. A table according to claim 13, wherein the actuation lever (62) is provided in the area of its swing axis with a cam element (70) by means of which the locking device (46) is adjustable between a release position and a blocking position.
 15. A table according to claim 5, wherein the locking device (46) is swingably mounted in a housing (18), which is firmly attached to the table top.
 16. A table according to claim 14, wherein, in the blocking position of the locking device (46), one of the bar elements (42A, 42B) engages in a locking manner with the recess (52) for locking the bow foot (14A, 14B), while in the release position of the locking device (46), the bar elements (42A, 42B) are disengaged from the recess (52) for releasing the bow foot (14A, 14B).
 17. A table according to claim 4, wherein the fastening tenon (38) fixes the control shell (30) in a rotationally fixed manner to the base limb (143A, 143B) and furthermore defines a position of the bow foot (14A, 14B). 